Lot's Wife (Genesis 19 and Luke 17:32-33)

I’m going to try very hard not to make that slip up! The truth is, however, that we all slip up. Maybe it’s our words, maybe it’s our actions.. it might even be something we think. This is a verse many of you may know: Romans 3:23. It says, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Notice it doesn’t say some have fallen short, or only 10th graders fall short.. it says ALL. Moms, dads, brothers, sisters, teachers, your best friend.. even Lindsay and I. We have all fallen short… we have all sinned. Eeekkk.. we are in big trouble.. but then again why do you think the gospel is called the “Good News” praise the Lord!

Remember last week when we talked about Potipher’s wife and her revenge on Joseph? She just couldn’t let it go that he didn’t want to have anything to do with her. So, she plotted, conspired and schemed. She just couldn’t let it go. She continued to sin to cover up her sin.

Have you ever had a sin that you just couldn’t shake? Gossip (ouch), talking back to your parents (eeekkk), lying to a friend (ooooohhhh), having bad thoughts about that girl who likes the guy you like (okay, okay.. stop it Ashley! We get it.) What about an event in the past that you can’t let go of.. a break up? Something within your family? I think we can learn a lot from the next Bad Girl of the Bible, even though she is only mentioned twice in scripture and like Potipher’s wife, has no name. Tonight we are going to talk about Lot’s wife.

Genesis 19 gives an account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

What are we looking back at? Maybe there is something in your past that you are looking back at. I don’t know what it is for many of you but for me it’s definitely my past. There are things in my past that I am not proud of. Things I did, things I said, relationships I was in.. but thank the Lord for his mercy and grace. Thank goodness that He can take those things in my past and use them for His glory. He continues to show me daily how he wants to use me. I’ve been called by God to be “set apart” and I have never followed this call. It’s a tough place to be. It’s a tough calling to follow. This mean that some of the things that the world sees as “normal” and things that are totally legal- are just things that I don’t do. (I should remind you that this isn’t something I have followed very closely but I am trying each day to work harder to become that person that God is calling me to be.)

Anyway, I say all that to say that I want you girls to spend some time in prayer. Spend some time thinking about the things that you need to let go of. Take some time to think about the things that you need to work towards. God is always calling us to give something up for him and replace it with more of him. What is he calling you to give up and what is he calling you to replace it with. For me- it’s the past and it’s this “set apartness” that I know he wants me to dwell in.

Oh, and can I borrow your calculator? xox

Eve, you naughty girl!

I help teach a Life Group at my Church, Brentwood Baptist. I teach the 10th grade girls and they are MY LOVE! They are just great and fabulous and if they are reading this.. their heads are getting BIG! ;) Last night we talked about Eve, our first "bad girl of the bible." I thought I would post my sermonette notes for a two fold reason. 1. I thought it was a pretty good lesson and 2. So my girls could have a physical reminder of our lesson. :) Here you go:

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How many of you like Christmas? The reminders of Jesus' birth, the lights, the snow, the Christmas tree and the PRESENTS! I love Christmas. I mean, this whole week I have been listening to Christmas music. Yes, I know it's the beginning of September but I just love Christmas- it's one of my favorite holidays. One of my favorite parts of Christmas, other than the birth of Jesus, is seeing the presents under the tree. I love the "secret-ness" of it all. I love that someone has thought about me enough to go out and get something for me and wrap it all pretty and place it under the tree. But... I also have a problem… I am a pre-Christmas present finding sneak-peeker. Yes, I admit it and my whole family knows that if they don't keep their presents far away then I will end up finding them. It's not that I don't like surprises but it's the thrill of the chase. The idea that there is some mystery somewhere with my name all over it! (I get excited about it just thinking about it.)

I wonder if this is how Eve felt when the serpent came up to her about that tree. Was it like Christmas? I'm sure the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil didn't have lights and tinsel but there was a mystery.. a chase.. the unknown.. and Eve had to have it. I think Eve was the biggest sneak-peeker of us all. I mean, sure.. I've felt bad after sneak-peeking but I don't think any of us have ever been accused of messing it up for the rest of humanity. Today we are going to look a little deeper into this story and about our first Bad Girl of the Bible, Eve, and how we can avoid the same mistakes she did.

Genesis 2:15- 25
The story begins
Dating Tip: vs. 18 (NLT) "Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him." Have you even seen a couple and you think "Oh my gosh, they were MADE FOR EACH OTHER!" It's way cute, right? Yes, and let's just admit it and get it out there. We like boys. Haha.. there is something about the "opposite sex". There is nothing wrong with that. BUT let me ask you this.. who are you spending more time day dreaming about? God or "Billy Bob". (The girls laughed at my "Billy Bob") God, since the beginning of time, has created someone who is "just right" for us and we are "just right" for him. So, why are we wasting our time drooling over Billy Bob and wondering if he likes Susie Q more than us? Your right- it's a little bit of a waste. Why not spend our time focusing on God and let Him handle the situation. I mean, it is fun to have crushes and it's fun to have a boy to talk about but when you get down to it- God has your best interest in mind.. if you are supposed to be with someone, it will happen. Give it to him!

Genesis 3:1-2
Don't get into a debate with Satan.
James 4:7
That's right ladies, resist him. "Oh, I will beat you down with my Bible!"

Genesis 3:3 back to Genesis 2:16-17
Know God's Word so you won't be fooled.
Psalm 119:11
Hide the Word of the Lord in your hearts. One- you will totally fall in love with Jesus over and over again and you will be able to recall verses when you need them the most.

Genesis 3:4-7
Watch out for the Big Three.
We are physical, emotional, and spiritual beings.
Satan tempted Eve on ever faucet of the Big Three. The "fruit" was "good for food", it was "pleasing to the eye" and it was "desirable for gaining wisdom".

Genesis 3:8-13
Avoid the blame game
"Typical Man" my girls shouted.. "blaming it all on Eve, come on! And then he goes and blames it on God too 'the woman YOU put me here with' what a load of junk.. boo ADAM!" Ladies, what did Eve do after that? *cricket cricket* SHE DID THE SAME THING! Typical woman! Typical human! Typical... sinner. We do the same thing when we sin.. we run and hid from God, who knows where we are anyway, and then we try to blame others (or other things) for our sin. OWN UP LADIES!

To end it all I just have to ask... "Will you be the other half of my skittle?"